Reinsurance and Policy Provisions (Athene Coinsurance Agreements) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014 Years	Dec. 31, 2013
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Coinsurance deposits	3,044,342,000	$ 2,999,618,000
Athene Coinsurance Agreements, All Periods [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Number of coinsurance agreements	3
Coinsurance deposits	2,200,000,000	2,100,000,000
Reinsurance payable	21,900,000	$ 27,300,000
Fixed Index Annuities [Member] \| Athene, 1st Coinsurance Agreement, January 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010 [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Coninsurance percentage on certain annuities	20.00%
Years until eligibility for recapture	7
Fixed Index Annuities [Member] \| Eagle Life [Member] \| Athene, 3rd Coinsurance Agreement, January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2015 [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Coninsurance percentage on certain annuities	80.00%
Fixed Index Annuities [Member] \| Eagle Life [Member] \| Athene, 3rd Coinsurance Agreement, January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018 [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Coninsurance percentage on certain annuities	50.00%
Fixed Index Annuities [Member] \| Eagle Life [Member] \| Athene, 3rd Coinsurance Agreement, January 1, 2019 Going Forward [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Coninsurance percentage on certain annuities	20.00%
Multi-Year Rate Guaranteed Annuities [Member] \| American Equity Life [Member] \| Athene, 2nd Coinsurance Agreement, July 1, 2009 to December 31, 2013 [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Coninsurance percentage on certain annuities	80.00%
Multi-Year Rate Guaranteed Annuities [Member] \| American Equity Life [Member] \| Athene, 3rd Coinsurance Agreement, January 1, 2014 Going Forward [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Coninsurance percentage on certain annuities	80.00%
Multi-Year Rate Guaranteed Annuities [Member] \| Eagle Life [Member] \| Athene, 2nd Coinsurance Agreement, November 20, 2013 to December 31, 2013 [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Coninsurance percentage on certain annuities	80.00%
Multi-Year Rate Guaranteed Annuities [Member] \| Eagle Life [Member] \| Athene, 3rd Coinsurance Agreement, January 1, 2014 Going Forward [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Coninsurance percentage on certain annuities	80.00%

Item represents the percentage of coinsurance provided under the coinsurance agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	ael_ConinsurancePercentageOnCertainAnnuities
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of coinsurance agreements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Item represents the number of years under coinsurance agreements that business in not eligible for recapture.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_YearsUntilEligibiltyForRecapture
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CededCreditRiskLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the reinsurer's funds held on its behalf by the ceding insurer, including funds held in trust, under reinsurance treaties or contracts with the assuming insurer as security for the payment of the obligations thereunder.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.2,10)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 2, 10

-Article 7

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FundsHeldUnderReinsuranceAgreementsAsset
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the known and estimated amounts owed to insurers under reinsurance treaties or other arrangements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.13(a)(3),(c))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph a(3)

-Article 7

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	ael_CoinsuranceAgreementsAxis=ael_AtheneCoinsuranceAgreementsAllPeriodsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ReinsurancePremiumsForInsuranceCompaniesByProductSegmentAxis=ael_FixedIndexAnnuityProductsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ReinsurancePremiumsForInsuranceCompaniesByProductSegmentAxis=ael_MultiYearRateGuaranteedAnnuityProductsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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